Mechanism and Sustainable Control of Crop Diseases

Crop diseases pose escalating threats to global food security, with fungal pathogens alone responsible for over 20% of yield losses in major staples worldwide [1]. The seven studies presented in this Special Issue explore innovative approaches to disease management that bridge molecular mechanisms and field applications. Although wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the primary model system showcased in this Issue, these investigations provide transferable insights for sustainable disease control across diverse cropping systems.

1. Integrated Control Strategies

Sustainable disease management requires synergistic approaches. In this Issue, Xu et al. demonstrate how optimized fungicide–cultivar combinations suppress Fusarium graminearum in wheat with 89–98% efficacy, reducing chemical inputs while maintaining control [2]. Complementing this, Zhu et al. identify that Bacillus velezensis can be used as a potent biocontrol agent against the emerging wheat pathogen Cladosporium cladosporioides [3]. These studies exemplify the “One Health” framework in which chemical and biological controls are strategically integrated to minimize environmental impact [4].

2. Genetic Resistance Mechanisms

A fundamental component of sustainable control is harnessing host resistance. The advanced genomic tools presented in this Special Issue include Liu et al.’s BSR-Seq mapping of the wheat powdery mildew gene PmL709 and Chen et al.’s GWAS, which identified 12 resistance loci. These findings align with recent breakthroughs in resistance gene cloning across crops [5]. Wei et al. further underscore the urgency of diversifying resistance sources, particularly against the wheat stem rust race Ug99, highlighting how pathogen evolution necessitates the continuous discovery of novel Sr genes.

3. Molecular Defense Networks

Understanding plant immune signaling is key to developing targeted interventions. In this Issue, Xiang et al. and Song et al. demonstrate how wheat transcription factors (TaGLK) and glutaredoxins (TaGRX) orchestrate defense responses through ABA signaling and ROS homeostasis. These regulatory hubs are promising targets for gene editing approaches that could enhance resistance across phylogenetically diverse crops [6].

4. Pathogen Emergence Dynamics

Ecological shifts are driving novel disease threats. Zhu et al.’s characterization of C. cladosporioides as an emerging wheat pathogen [3] reflects broader patterns of pathogen range expansion under climate change [7]. Their biocontrol solution models proactive responses to such evolving threats.

Towards Sustainable Solutions

Collectively, these studies exemplify three pillars of sustainable disease control:

• Precision: Fungicide optimization [2] and biocontrol deployment [3] reduce agrochemical footprints.
• Resilience: Genetic resistance mining [Liu et al., Chen et al.] extends variety durability.
• Adaptation: Molecular insights [Xiang et al., Song et al.] enable next-generation interventions.

Future research must further develop the applications of these integrated approaches beyond staple crops to fortify global food systems against evolving pathogen threats [7]. We thank the contributors to this Special Issue for advancing this critical frontier.